Upcoming Events: Wine Dinners, Small Plates and Large Pours

Wednesday wine tastings at French Country Wines are changing up a bit, but don't worry - the popular evening event isn't going anywhere. Husband-and-wife team Phyllis Adatto and Tim Smith have changed the hours of the weekly wine tasting, which will now take place every Wednesday evening from 5 to 7 p.m.

Additionally, guests will also be able to purchase French fare from Houston's only French food truck, L'es-Car-Go, while the weather is still nice enough to grab a seat outside. As always, the wine tastings will continue to be open to the public and weekend tasting events will continue to pop corks every Saturday at noon.

In the meantime, French Country Wines will be throwing a wine dinner on Tuesday, May 21 to toast the advent of summer. The winery has teamed up with Au Petit Paris Bistro, which will host the dinner that starts at 7 p.m. and costs $76 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Call 713-524-7070 for reservations.

In other wine dinner news, Damian's Cucina Italiana is hosting its own wine dinner the very next night, Wednesday May 22. Special guest Paolo Boselli, who represents Italy's Agricola San Felice region, will be present to discuss wine pairings.

The five-course menu includes spinach-and-cheese gnocchi paired with a San Felice "Campogiovanni" Brunello Di Montalcino and grilled red venison chop with "Poggio Rosso" Chianti Classico Riserva. The cost is $100 per person (all inclusive) and reservations can be made by calling 713-522-0439.

Love steakhouse food, but not the oversized steakhouse portions? You're in luck. The popular Small Plates, Big Pours menu has been brought back to Fleming's Prime Steakhouse by popular demand. From now through June 30, you can pair any of Fleming's seven small plates with an oversized wine pour for just $24.95.

Fleming's selection of Small Plates include New Zealand petite lamb chops, lobster tempura, colossal shrimp skewers, New Bedford scallops, sliced filet mignon, braised short ribs, or ahi tuna matched with one of the restaurant's seven premium Big Pours. Each pour has been selected by Fleming's Director of Wine, Maeve Pesquera, to guarantee the perfect pairings.